He said he did not tell
investigators about Nick, or about another man he supposedly let borrow
his car for $50 on the night of the killing, because he was concerned
that he would be looked at as 'contributing' to Lockhart's killing.
'My thought is we talked this girl
into doing this party,' Speaks testified. 'I felt guilty about talking
her into going to this party that she did not return from.'
 |
| Speaks' girlfriend and co-defendant Margaret Sanchez |
Speaks was at times defensive, but mostly came across as subdued and he even choked up at one moment.
The trial is taking place in
Jefferson Parish, a suburban area adjacent to New Orleans. Prosecutors
charge that the murder took place at a home Speaks and Sanchez were
living in near the city's airport.
Speaks was also found guilty with obstruction of justice in the case.
He initially tried to represent himself in the trial but after one day handed the case back to his defense attorneys.
Jefferson Parish Assistant District
Attorney Doug Freese painted a portrait of Speaks as a serial liar who
came up with stories to avoid conviction.
Freese said Speaks made false statements to investigators when he was arrested six days after the slaying.
He acknowledged using an alias while
living in New Orleans because he was wanted for a probation violation
and he admitted misleading investigators because he didn't want to go
back to prison.
When authorities arrested him on
June 12, he tried to flee because he had warrants for his arrest, he
said, not because he had killed Lockhart.
Freese challenged Speaks on why he
didn't tell investigators about Nick and the other man he supposedly let
use his car on the night of the killing. Speaks said investigators
didn't give him a chance to tell his side of the story and were
determined that he was guilty.
The prosecution also relied on
emails Speaks sent to Lockhart while he was in prison and testimony from
an inmate who said Speaks told him he had done the killing.
![NG-[C:G.Watc,B:Casi,Wk:4715,Dim:300X250]:Casio](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vxjt6fuJMMmeLomX2t71kcwMVmzo6p1fwnBwiSfpdnlPd_ugXbVOOfp2s7d61XFoUYIhHhmoky8Nt3tMvAPPkyO524-o8TpTvW7R39Yy9_VXg3Sh5ShbZUUKK9HzUvUnswfBfXVt3bbvSlKXGDUZu7kHdUQfu4429blKcdgb6KYyCNoonsgA=s0-d)
